'We have no problem, as long as DAP is left out' - Idris Ahmad on Umno unity

SHAH ALAM – Pas is ready to work with Umno again, provided the terms of cooperation are clear and prioritise the formation of a stable government, said Pas Vice President Datuk Idris Ahmad.

Speaking on the possibility of rekindling ties with Umno, Idris stressed that Pas had never closed its doors to any Malay-based party, including Umno.

"Pas is always ready. Whether Umno needs to join Perikatan Nasional (PN) or not can be discussed.

"What is important is forming a government together. The previous Pas-Umno unity broke apart too easily, which is a pity," he told Sinar.

Idris acknowledged that past tensions between Umno and Bersatu could complicate efforts but insisted that Pas did not share such reservations.

"Maybe Umno felt uncomfortable with Bersatu because of its former leaders. They criticised us before, saying Pas dislikes Amanah. That is not true. We have no problem even with PKR, as long as DAP is left out," he said.

According to him, Pas had always drawn the line at DAP, stressing that the party’s struggle was grounded in defending Malay-Muslim unity.

He reiterated that Pas had never pursued a "hidden agenda" in its political dealings and remained open to partnerships beyond PN.

"Pas was open to cooperating with any party, even Pejuang. If Malay unity could be achieved, God willing, a coalition representing Malays could win elections, partly because of the high percentage of Malay voters," he said.

On questions about PN’s internal dynamics, particularly disputes over the Prime Minister candidate in the event of an electoral victory, Idris urged political parties to focus on winning first.

"First, we must win. Sometimes people count the coconut milk, onions and ginger before even catching the fish. Let’s win first," he added, stating that Pas was not obsessed with securing the premiership for its leaders.

"We are not fixated on Pas providing the Prime Minister. Within the party, we’ve never discussed that. Our focus is strengthening Pas, ensuring victory and securing enough numbers to form a government," he said.

Drawing comparisons to Pakatan Harapan (PH), Idris criticised the coalition for making promises it could not fulfil.

“It’s the same as PH, who made all kinds of promises before winning, but did something else when in government. We’ve experienced that situation before,” he added.